THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."—Rev. 3 :10.

The hour of temptation is an unparalleled period of trial belong­ing to "the time of the end," which begins with prosperity and cries of peace, the fascinating power of which seizes every individual and entices him to speculation and enjoyment. Our text shows that spiritual as well as temporal riches have fallen into the hands of the generation that becomes subject to the hour of temptation, also that this time of temptation concerns all Christian nations. This subject is divided into three main headings:

(1) The word of patience;

(2) The hour of temptation; and

(3) Them that dwell upon the earth.

1. The Word of Patience. The expression "the word of my patience," implies that Christ himself endured a time of temptation over which he was victorious because of his adhering to the Word of God. We find this hour of temptation described in Mat. 4:1-10. The opposer of this Word desired to show the hungry. One an easier way to get his daily bread, honor, and an elevated position, than that which the Word under such circumstances permitted. The expression in question goes still further, showing that he had patiently developed himself by reason of that part of the prophetic Word which had to do with his time, also the work which God had given him to accomplish. For thirty years this Word in flesh was reared for the determined purpose of God. He was advised by his brethren at a certain occasion to show himself to the world in case he were something, or could perform any miracles. His answer reveals that he was bound as it were within a certain ap­pointed time. He said,

"My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready ... Go ye up unto this feast: I go not yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come."—John 7:4-5.

Already at the age of twelve Jesus astonished the scribes and teachers at the temple. He patiently endured his thirty years of preparation until God sent him the power which finally led to his death as a seal on his life achievement. The word of his patience therefore comprehends a similar time to be experienced by those who are to be tempered to meet the great final scene of the hour of temptation.

a. The expression, "because thou hast kept the word of my patience," shows that the individual thus addressed has passed through trials resembling to some extent these of the Master, and has renounced, by virtue of his faith in the Word of God, worldly privileges in order to live "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." We find that the present generation has passed through a, period of prosperity, the like of which is unknown to history. An unparalleled and extensive culture has broadened the views of the people in worldly sciences. Good harvests and modern means of communication have dispelled the thought of a possible famine. An incomparable religiosity, promising salvation to "the foolish virgins," to Judas, and to Cain the murderer, yea, to Satan himself, has led the people away from the narrow path of faith. The preaching of fables has removed the fear of God and arrogantly devoured all of God's promises. People have conferred upon them­selves the most important distinctions and honors. For instance, every one of the so-called saved expects to receive "a crown" and "a palm of victory" as soon as he "dies and goes to heaven," to "sing the song of Moses and the Lamb," and to "be a member of the bride of Christ"—all of which naturally requires the experience of Moses and the Lamb.

This reveals to us that what Christ carefully avoided, namely, to apply on himself the privileges of sonship before time, the reli­gious people of our time have made their sole object. They have fallen into the temptation. When he suffered grief, was wounded and bruised (see Isa. 53) , he did not seek deliverance ahead of time, but trained his patience. By subduing his natural being he took pains to enlarge the space for the occupancy of the Spirit of truth to the honor of the Invisible. The period of prosperity has now produced the opposite, and the person having climbed the highest and become the greatest in the religious sphere is con­sidered the nearest to Jesus, whether or not he be convinced of the existence of Jehovah.

The one who, on the contrary, has rejected offers of becoming elevated because of the fear of God, and because the words and examples of Christ control him, has become tempered during the dreary hours of sacrifice so that he is able patiently to endure opposition, hunger, and, if necessary, death. He has no use for an elevated throne of honor in the world, nor for riches.

b. "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation." This proves that the one who receives the fulfillment of this promise has been tempted, exposed to privation, bodily danger, and has been without defense, just because he has adhered to the Word that "was made flesh, and dwelt among us" during a time when peo­ple have depended on Christ's credit before God for the premature receipt of the prerogative of the saved. The fact of having perse­vered in self-sacrifice makes up as it were a fortress of defense at the most terrible juncture of the world temptation.

Christ means this: If you have willingly adhered to my Word and not denied my name, in opposition to the words and names of the elevated dignitaries of the world during the time of their glory, and have patiently suffered therefore, you shall receive my pro­tection when their times of distress comes.

2. The Hour of Temptation.

The hour of temptation is a concentrated universal period of irritating influences, which penetrates into every country, nation, and people, in order "to try them that dwell upon the earth." The person who has become deluded by temporary allurements during the time of prosperity, and bowed before the tempter, who has advised the use of all available means for the attainment of a carefree existence, is the one who has become elevated and has received a privileged position within the sphere in which he moves. The tempter has a mortgage on him. In this the preachers have gone ahead as faith-ruining examples. They are therefore properly designated in Acts 20:29-35 and John 10 :8-17.

People have followed the desires of their flesh and stifled the warning voice of the Word of God. Merchants have enmeshed themselves in extensive and expensive ventures and ruinous con­nections. The nations have got into debt and have established re­lations for the purpose of loaning money, hoping for bounteous future harvests. Salary-demanding priests and ministers have compared their churches with more glorious and more wonderful temples, and their "small salaries" with the princely incomes of these or those individuals, spurring the believers to surpass others in "offering to God."

The temptation of the world will resemble the temptation of Egypt. In Egypt there were first seven bounteous years and then seven years of famine. The people in general had saved nothing from the bounteous years. Had it not been for the revelation of Jehovah, and for Joseph, the whole nation would have succumbed. The decree of God made Joseph, who had been disowned, mis­treated, and purged in the furnace of distress, the savior of the country.

The revolution and the drought will penetrate to the haunts of everyone. God has permitted his Word of wisdom to shine over the nations. They have girded themselvs with the highest and most glorious professions of faith. He has heaped over them the richest fruits of the earth. But his people, who fear and love him, also the laboring masses, have been mistreated, suppressed by an iron hand under a burden of taxes, hard work, and doctrines of idolatry; they have been drenched by liquor and lowered into ruinous habits; and they have been submerged into the bloody sea of war. The triune I. H. S. has received the honor for all the good that God has given. Temples have been built for. him, but Jehovah's people have lacked roofs over their heads, and His strangers have not been allowed to live on earth The so-called "most high" majesties have crowned their cries of peace with carnages on the insignificant and defenseless people, at which oc­casions they have proceeded in a most gruesome manner, not even permitting the wild man to retain his island in the sea, the bird its nest in the tree, nor the fox its den in the wilds. They have tempted God in a bold and offensive manner, therefore he says:

"Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. There­fore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mer­cies: my house shall be built on it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem."—Zech. 1 :14-17.

Here it is not a question of old Zion, but of "daughter of Zion," who dwells "with the daughter of Babylon." He calls forth "four carpenters" in order to break off the four "horns of the Gentiles," which have "scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." The Word of prophecy and those who are entrusted with it make up the only existing bridge of rescue over the abyss of devastation, and it has already become impossible for the transgressors to walk on it. A comparison of 2 Thes. 2nd chapter and Isa. 47th chapter will re­veal that hypocrisy, oppression, and witchcraft—religious spirit­ualism—are sitting on the most elevated throne of power at the dawning of what is the day of the Lord. By virtue of all this the memory of the name of Jehovah, and of his predetermination of old, has been driven from the nations. For this reason he will send the severe hammer of famine in order to provide room in the stomachs of the feasting people for "the bread of affliction." Rain falls in the harvest until they curse the rain, and it stops. The seed rots in the ground. Wild beasts attack people. Wars and revolutions break out. The much praised big industry crumbles.

Israel was easily able to live without working every seventh year and still have seven years' over-supply every fiftieth year while Jehovah, now considered worthless as a ruler, was their regent. And no homeless or poor person was to be found within their kingdom. Now the haughty nations have the opportunity to try all their powers, their gods, their inventors, and their wise men, in order to ascertain whether they are superior to Jehovah For this reason he will give the nations a special time of trial—seven years of abundance and seven years of unparalleled famine. The earth will shake, towers will fall, plagues will scourge, and fires will consume.—See Rev. 11:3-15.

3. Them That Dwell Upon the Earth. This points to a class which has established itself in this world and is valued in the community because of its possessions. They have fulfilled the prophecy which. says of them, "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brim­stone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."—Luke 17 :26-30.

They have not believed the gospel of the impending revelation of the Son and kingdom of God. They are compelled to maintain their express train speed and keep the status quo in power. "The spoils of the poor" are in their houses. They cannot restrain a lust nor suppress a desire, and they are unable to endure the slightest humiliation. They trust in their priests and ministers for answers to their prayers, but the sunshine or rain they pray for fails to come. They trust in their armies for defense, but enemies come upon them; on laborers for service, but these leave in order to avenge the stripes they have received; on the gracc of God, but he derides their wailing.—Isa. 65 :11-14; Jer. 14 :11-14.

The nations have become bankrupt. They are torn asunder by the revolutionary power of the bread question The salvation offered by the church is worthless--the trinity goes into bank­ruptcy—peace and the abundance of all things have flown. They have enacted laws for, and determined the tax burdens of, those who are devoid of possessions. The judiciary and the "saved" have made the sins of the nations their own. Now, since they value possessions higher than men, Jehovah will take his Word, his people, his earth, and his fruits of the earth away from them.